To the Editor,

As the Church prepares for the birth of the Savior the Supreme Court is hearing arguments in “Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization” on the viability of life. Life is “viable” when supported and when withdrawn; it is not. A healthy twenty-four year old becomes unviable when food and water are withheld. 

When the Virgin Mary greeted her cousin, Elizabeth exclaimed “… when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy” (Lk 1:44). This shows babies in utero are fully human capable of knowing their Savior as they are capable of knowing their mother’s voice in utero. 

When Jesus took on flesh in the Virgin’s womb there was never a time when He was united to something other than a full human being. The sacredness of life is accessible to all people through reason and conscience. This is why world over people know the Fifth Commandment and we are to lovingly defend our smallest neighbor in all we do including the voting booth. 

Our pro-choice friends say Christians ought not foist their beliefs upon society. Since the dawn of time the natural order written on the heart of people has led societies to codify laws prohibiting stealing and slander. Because these prohibitions are also found in the Bible would they suggest removing from society laws prohibiting stealing and slander? I would hope not. 

Defenders of Roe lift up the importance of “precedent” citing the principle, “Stare decisis,” Latin for, “to stand by things decided.” “Stand by precedent” and do not overturn earlier decisions of the Bench is their rallying cry. Our pro-choice friends argue precedent supersedes the truth. I, for one, am glad the truth superseded precedent when the 1857 Dread Scott decision was nullified through the enactment of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments. We pray the current Bench would have such wisdom and courage. 

Rev. Karl Weber

St. John’s Lutheran, 

Ottertail

St. Paul’s Lutheran, 

Richville